Lorries to remain off roads on January 25

Bangalore, Jan 3 (UNI) Lorries will remain off the roads across Karnataka on January 25 in support of the New Delhi-based All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association's call to strike work in protest against the hike in third party insurance premium.

Informing this to newspersons here today, Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners Association President B Channa Reddy said the premium had been increased arbitrarily by 150 per cent with effect from January one, 2007, by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) without consulting the Confederation. The increase in premium was uncalled for as all the 12 insurance companies were not incurring loss as claimed by IRDA, he added.

He said the protest was also against the Karnataka Government notification, making it compulsory to fit speed governors in commercial vehicles from May one next. Speed governors hampered the performance of vehicles and were not approved by vehicle manufacturers.

UNI